Saturday, August 30, 2014

Here is a sneak peek of my first amigurumi pattern! This little fishy has a surprise....he's bouncy! I hope to release the pattern this coming week. Keep an eye out because blog readers and Ravelers will get special discount!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Okay, here goes all of the projects that have been keeping my hands busy.

I made my own drop spindle. I love it. I have spun on many wonderful drop spindles but they have been lacking in one department or another for me. I like the rim weighted Bossies and Goldings but I like the bottom whorl Anne Grouts. The only thing is I don't like a hook at the top of my shaft. I also like to be able to spin supported like a Russian spindle so I can sit comfortably if I feel like it. All of the spindles I named are excellent spindles but I decided to make one to fit all of my needs/desires. Feeling inspired by the hardworking, simple tools of the spinners in the Andes, I used some polymer clay and shaped my own whorl. It is not perfectly balanced because it is done completely by hand but, it is pretty close. Once your cop of yarn builds up it balances well anyway. It is rim weighted and spins for a very long time. I used a 1/4" dowel cut to 9 " long for the shaft. I put the bottom end in a pencil sharpener and sanded it to get that nice point for spinning supported. I love my new spindle!

Update on the cap sleeve top. Finished front and halfway done with the back. Can't wait to wear it!

If you knit too, I casted on for the Anne Shirley Puff Sleeve - Top from Literary Knits by Nikol Lohr. Yep, same gal I rented the Mad Battr' from! (Got all of my batts done by the way!) I love this book. It is full of tastefully designed clothing for men, women and children. I have wanted to make this sweater for a long time. It is top down and seamless.

And, here is the sock that I have started in the Sock Ease I bought at Tuesday Mornings. It is alright. It splits quite often though when I am inserting my hook. I got it for super cheap so, it's worth it.

Those are current projects but so much more is going on. We are getting a new angora goat on the farm tomorrow! If you aren't familiar, angoras give us mohair. She is a light brown, our first one with color! I will post pictures of her this weekend.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Do you remember my earlier post about renting the Mad Battr' from my friend Nikol Lohr? Well, it is here! I have to be honest with you. I love fiber arts but I have not loved the prep of a raw fleece. I don't mind washing but carding has never been a part of the process that I love. Until now. I can't believe this thing! It is the most amazing carder ever! I had an old carder a few years ago and the process of getting the fleece through it was... painful. This carder can handle whatever you throw at it, it is chain driven and easy to crank, and it turns out beautiful batts! Each time I pulled one off, I couldn't believe I made that soft, beautiful batt! I can't wait to experiment with it. Nikol taught me how to make roving with the drum carder as well! I never would have thought of that! I will see if I can record and post some how to videos for carding with the Mad Battr'. When I watched her give me a demo, I couldn't believe how quick and smooth everything went. I wondered if I was going to get it home and want one. I do! Here is a picture of the Mad Battr' at my carding station.

And a picture of a small batt (a little over 2 oz.) and a large batt (over 5 oz.) Also, this is the fleece that I washed using the FSM method.

And on the crochet side of things, my Cap Sleeve Top is coming along. The front is complete and I am now working on the back. I try to do at least 2 rows a day. Slow and steady wins the race! I also have a pair of socks that I am working on in Sock Ease. Found it in a nice color at Tuesday Mornings. I will put up a post about these soon. And.... my first amigurumi pattern is almost finished!!!!!!!!! More on that later ;)

Monday, August 4, 2014

I would like to thank everyone that stopped by and left your kind comments! And, thanks to everyone who subscribed. Now to announce the winner of the yarn giveaway.... congratulations Anne! I will send you an email to get your address and the yarn will be on the way! I plan on doing a lot more giveaways on the blog so, keep an eye out! And now for a crochet hook review. I recently purchased a set of Tulip Etimos from another member of Ravelry. The set I purchased usually sells for around the $100 mark. I was able to get them used but in perfect condition on Ravelry for $70. No, this isn't the cheapest set in the world but let me tell you, they are worth every penny. I will start with the case.

The case is very classy and very practical. The people that designed this case made very good use of space. Closed the case is about 6 1/2" x 3 1/2". I am selling my Namaste Better Buddy (which is a nice case for your stitch markers, scissors, etc.) simply because I no longer need it due to the efficiency of the Tulip Etimo case. Here is an inside picture.

All of the hooks with the gray ergonomic handles are the Tulip Etimos. This set came with sizes D, E, F, G, 7, H, I, and J. The handles are nice and soft but not too squishy. They are very comfortable to crochet with. I put my Clover Amour sizes B and C on the end. This way I have a full range. You can purchase Etimos separately but I already own the Amours. The set also came with very nice Italian scissors, stitch markers, a ruler, and needles. I took them out for the photo but they all fit with room to spare in the zipper pouch area that they are setting on top of for the shot. Now for the part that makes or breaks a hook for me.

The hook tapers perfect for me. I like it to have a bit of a point and not to be too rounded. These are not sharp points, just enough to glide through your yarn with ease. My favorite part, the super smooth finish on the Etimos. These hooks have the slickest finish over any other hook I have used. The Etimos and the Amours are almost neck and neck for me. The Amours are more affordable. And don't get me wrong these too have a nice and smooth finish. They are a great hook! But, the Etimo finish is the smoothest. I am really enjoying crocheting with these and thrilled with my Ravelry find! Hope this review helps and enables :)

Friday, August 1, 2014

I wanted to thank everyone for stopping in and looking at my new crochet blog. What better way to say thanks than with a yarn giveaway! I am giving away a hank of my hand dyed sock yarn!!!!!! I searched many different yarns from various mills before choosing which one I wanted for my hand dyed line of yarns. There are many wonderful yarns out there but the one I felt was the most luxurious is spun at a British Mill. This yarn is sooo soft and very high quality. I dye using natural dyes with no heavy metals. The colors are always rich. The hank that I am offering for the giveaway is dyed with colors that remind me of Americana Folk Art. Red and blue but muted in a soft eye pleasing manner. The hank is 80% SW Merino and 20% Nylon sock yarn, 400 yds./100 gr. To enter, simply leave me a comment below and include your email address. I will pick a winner on Monday Aug.4. I will notify you through email and I will announce the winner on the blog! Now for pictures!!!